Lake Deaton at Home

Name:  Gemma Benjamin

Which Service do you attend: Sundays, 9 a.m.

Word: Peace

Scripture: Matthew 2:3: “King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem.”

This scripture brings to mind different emotions . . .  On Herod’s part, we know that he is jealous of this newborn King of the Jews. He is afraid of being supplanted by another. He fears losing power. The people of Jerusalem, however, are experiencing different emotions than Herod – they feel uncertainty and fear. They ask each other, “Are these signs truly what was prophesied?” “Is this really the Messiah who has come?!” “Will our new King have us rise up to throw out our Roman oppressors?” “Will there be a war?!? 

But isn’t something missing for Herod and for the people of Jerusalem all those years ago? We found that “thing” this year . . . read our story below.

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For the Benjamin household, this Christmas will be different than the last 14 Christmas’ that we have had while living in Florida – we will have no children or grandchildren visiting us. That means that we’ve not had to plan menus, not had to grocery shop with throngs of other shoppers, not made extra beds and planned where everyone will sleep. And we haven’t done all those other activities that we usually did before family descended upon us. 

But we aren’t sad about this!!

Randy and I have remembered that these are all activities unrelated to the birth of Christ. His coming does not involve shopping, endless eating and opening gifts. We have reminded ourselves what Christmas means –

It is about Advent activities . . . preparing us to commemorate Jesus’ arrival.

It is about the Prince of Peace . . . coming as was foretold.

It is about the angels singing “Peace on earth and mercy mild!”

It is about people singing “Peace on earth, good will towards men!”

It is about that Peace we pray for in our world, 

In our country, 

In our hearts.

This time of Advent may you find the Peace that can only come from Jesus’ birth.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the peace you give in the midst of uneasiness and unanswered questions in our world.

Action: Call someone that might be going through turmoil, listen and pray with them.